Osakpolorblog : 12/11/17

Davido, Runtown, Mr. P, Niniola, Oritsefemi, 9ice, Olu Maintain, Falz & More Shutdown Barbeach At The Merrybet Celebrity Fans Challenge Event

It was a glamourous evening on the 9^th of December, 2017 at the Merrybet Celebrity Fans Challenge (The Island Revenge) held at Barbeach, Victoria Island, Lagos. This remarkable gathering that held 10,000+ crowd was overwhelming having the likes of Davido, Runtown, 9ice, Oritsefemi, Mr. P, Niniola, Skales, Falz, Charles Okocha (Amoshine), Denrele Edun, Josh2funny, Olu Maintain, Mr. 2kay, Mayorkun, Terry Apala, Orezi, Woli Arole, Obesere, Air Boy, Ric Hassani, Jaywon, Qdot, Toby Grey and many more on one prestigious stage.

Hence, this event hosted by Kiibati Bankole, Akpororo & Funnybone was a delightful one full of music, comedy, football, sport games, and also ram sports.

History was made with reloaded music blast from DJ Michael Andre, DJ City & DJ E-Cool and the vibes remain burning at same frequency from beginning till dawn as the super hype man Dotun was energetically scintillating, alongside Lagabaja MC & Givenchy.

The event powered by Merrybet Gold was endorsed by the Lagos State Government and proudly supported by Super Sport, DAMI ADENUGA WORLD, Planet TV, Brilla FM, LASAA, DMT Toilet, Ariiya Tickets, Onsele, Genesis Cinemas, Naijaloaded, Yabaleft, KraksTV, Tastee Fried Chicken, tooXclusive, NotJustOK & You!

See more pictures after cut;

All The Times Sola Sobowale And Daughter Gave Us Perfect Family Goals

Sola Sobowale, is giving us great mother and daughter vibes with her dopplegänger, Mimi Sobowale.

The mother-daughter pair have been sharing photos of themselves in matching outfits, posing it up for the ‘gram.

From attending the premiere of The Wedding Party 2 dressed up in their Arabian attires, to rocking their agbadas with so much swag and even just being asoebibellas for an owambe.

The popular Nollywood Actress, who delivered her role perfectly well in the Wedding Party Movie, shared delectable photos of them together.

Mimi, who is a makeup artist, blogger and YouTuber lives in London. She has a video on her channel where she gets her mum all glammed up for an event.

Here are the photos:

All The Times Sola Sobowale And Daughter Gave Us Perfect Family Goals

Sola Sobowale, is giving us great mother and daughter vibes with her dopplegänger, Mimi Sobowale.

The mother-daughter pair have been sharing photos of themselves in matching outfits, posing it up for the ‘gram.

From attending the premiere of The Wedding Party 2 dressed up in their Arabian attires, to rocking their agbadas with so much swag and even just being asoebibellas for an owambe.

The popular Nollywood Actress, who delivered her role perfectly well in the Wedding Party Movie, shared delectable photos of them together.

Mimi, who is a makeup artist, blogger and YouTuber lives in London. She has a video on her channel where she gets her mum all glammed up for an event.

Here are the photos:

Odinkalu, Ras Kimono want FG to be more responsive to killing of Nigerians abroad

In this photo taken Monday, March 24, 2014. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission speaks during an interview in Lagos, Nigeria. Two generals and officials of Nigeria’s feared State Security Service had to testify under oath at a hearing of the National Human Rights Commission into killings of unarmed civilians _ a “quantum leap” in accountability in Nigeria, according to the country’s top rights advocate. The December hearings were the first time such high-ranking officers, including the chief of army staff, have been held to account since Nigeria's military dictatorship, said Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission. It published a report blaming State Security agents for the unlawful gunning down of eight civilians and wounding of 11 others, and ordered the government to pay reparations of some $820,000. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

A former Director-General of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Chidi Odinkalu, on Monday expressed worry over what he said was the federal government’s silence on killing of Nigerians abroad.

Mr. Odinkalu, Senior Team Manager for Africa Program of the Open Society Justice Initiative, told the News Agency of Nigeria on the side-line of Human Rights Fiesta in Abuja, that the government was not caring for citizens.

He said that six Nigerian females were killed abroad recently, but that there was no serious action was taken by the government.

He said the federal government needed to do more to ensure that every Nigerian life mattered.

If one white person gets killed in France, our president sends a condolence message.

“It is disappointing that our president does not take it seriously when Nigerians are killed. Rather, we get condolence messages being sent out to the rest of the world when their own people are killed.

“If all the Nigerians being killed don’t matter, and one white person killed matters to our president, that tells that you we have a lot of work to do.

“I know that there is no perfect human rights situation anywhere because everywhere it is work-in-progress and Nigeria is the same but we don’t have a choice; we have to make progress. Nigerian lives must matter.’’

Mr. Odinkalu said though he was not against condoling with the rest of the world, he insisted that Nigerians also deserved condolence and protection.

He said that this was because Nigerian lives were just as important as European and American lives, adding that that was the point that everyone needed to understand on human rights day.

The former director-general said that there were many things Nigeria needed to get right, especially the rule of law.

He noted that the government was still having problems obeying the court orders on Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and Sambo Dasuki.

He said that there were also issues with law enforcement abuses by police and other security agents, like the young women who escaped from Boko Haram and got raped by security personnel.

Mr. Odinkalu said that part of the reasons for failure to achieve human rights was the impunities of corruption and the absence of effective remedy to bring to book people who stole or plundered the country’s money.

According to him, there are people who have pocketed the budgetary appropriations for hospitals, schools, roads and we have not been able to find those people and bring them to book.

“As a result of that, we cannot provide adequately for our people. So essentially, my first advice is, let us get the rule of law right because if we get it right, everything will work,’’ he said.

He urged Nigerians to stand for each other and that the government should back the people to ensure human rights for all.

“My prayer for Nigerians is “may somebody be there for them at the point of their needs, that point of need is the point at which a human rights need is addressed.’’

Similarly, popular Reggae artiste, Ras Kimono, told NAN that Nigerians were being killed across the globe but the government was not addressing the killings.

Kimono said that there was need to put in place mechanisms that would address such situations and call for sanctions where necessary.

He said that he had been singing about human rights for over 20 years in Nigeria, yet little had been done by the government in that aspect.

He urged Nigerians to support themselves and work out plans to assist each other in cases of dehumanisation.

Frank Tietie, Executive Director, Citizen’s Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights, also told NAN that Nigerians needed to wake up and master what their rights were.

Mr. Tietie urged Nigerians to demand such rights from the government and also know the available places to seek redress.

“On the occasion of the human rights day, I thought it wise to organise a fiesta to bring to the knowledge of Nigerians the 30 human rights tenets to enlightenment.

“I made the longest human rights banner with all the 30 universal declaration of human rights.’’

He said that this would help the common man to know the rights he had and how to use them to seek redress.

Armed robbers will take over Nigeria if SARS is scrapped, says PCRC

Nigerians want SARS scrapped but the Nigeria Police has a totally different opinion.

#EndSARS protesters in Abuja (Pulse)

For weeks now, the social media has been agog with reports of various forms of human right abuses by personnel of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

From alleged harassments, shooting, extortions and killings, Nigerians from various parts of the country have joined the conversation against the inhumane treatment meted out to "defenseless" citizens.

While some Nigerians have called for the scrap of this unit of the Police, others have advocated for reforms that will reshape the unit for better service delivery.

#EndSARS protesters in Abuja (Pulse)

Against this backdrop, some Nigerians across the country took to the streets on Monday, December 11, 2017, to protest these alleged human right abuses.

Addressing Nigerians at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, Segun Awosanya lamented the actions of SARS personnel across the country.

The called for the scrapping of the Police unit within twenty-one days.

#EndSARS protesters in Abuja (Pulse)

“Nigerians have spent the last one week highlighting the travails have suffered in the hands of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS),” Awosanya.

“The stories that have been recounted on social media includes story of torture, lack of respect for the rule of law, extortion, extra-judicial murder and disappearance of hundreds of people.

“These actions are indicative that this unit have outlived its usefulness and now constitute a clear and present threat to the safety, welfare and wellbeing of Nigerians.

“We demand for an outright scrapping of the entire SARS unit across the country. Its members have become engrossed in crime, murder, brutality, extortion and disrespect for the rule of law in a manner that makes any attempt at reform a waste of time.

#EndSARS protesters in Abuja (Pulse)

“We demand for the constitution of a panel by the Police Services Commission to reform the Nigerian Police in its entirety. The agenda must include provisions for better training of police officers; provision of better equipment and firearms; better welfare including housing, insurance, prompt payment of salaries and pensions etc; establishment of a code of conduct and strict compliance thereto as well as strong disciplinary measures for any officer who violates the code of conduct.

“We also demand for a public hearing at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to enable Nigerians table their grievances before our elected representatives as well as the submission of memoranda on reforms of the Nigerian Police including recommendations on the amendment of laws to ensure a more efficient police force.

“We demand thorough investigations into complaints filed against SARS officers. We demand that such officers be identified and immediately brought to justice. In some cases, we will provide video and pictoral evidence against officers who have been seen to be involved in such acts of brutality and extortion.

“We give the authorities 21 days within which to meet these demands failing which we will be compelled to resort to other measures to embarrass them into taking action,” he added.

#EndSARS protesters in Abuja (Pulse)

Similarly, the convener of Concerned Nigerians Movement, Deji Adeyanju said the Nigerian public have "lost confidence" in the Police.

“It's so bad to the point that SARS officers and some police officer escort people to ATM machines to give them bribe, we have now seen some videos on social media where some police officers now ask for bribe in dollars.

“The police must look inward and stop blaming people, police have blamed us to say that we are sympathizers of armed robbers being sponsored by some politicians. The generality of Nigerians does not have confidence in the police,” he decried.

At the Eagles Square, a group of Nigerians – mostly women – had gathered in support of SARS.

#SupportSARS protesters at Eagle Square, Abuja (Pulse)

The deputy national chairman (North) of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), and leader of the Eminent Persons Forum, Sanusi Maijama’a Ajiya told Pulse that armed robbers would take over the country if SARS is scrapped.

His words: "IGP has assured that he will put SARS in the right position and take action on any officer found violating rights of citizens. IGP is a leader has taken the step to reform SARS.

#SupportSARS protesters at Eagle Square, Abuja (Pulse)

"The recent campaign in the social media calling for the scrapping of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigeria Police Force is not in the interest of Nigerians, most especially for the armed robbery and kidnap victims and their families.

"We call on all Nigerians to continue to support the reform of SARS as announced by the Inspector General of Police to make it better under the federal SARS arrangement and a Commissioner of Police already appointed by the IGP to head SARS to be allowed to work to make F-SARS more effective and efficient.

"SARS has over the years, performed excellently well as it has assisted in arresting some notorious criminals in different parts of the country and allow Market Men and Women to continue to do their business and other activities very well nationwide"

"If SARS is scrapped and armed robbers take over, they will not be affected. So all Nigerians are once again called upon to support reform of SARS,” he added.

At the Police Force Headquarters, the deputy inspector general of Police (Operations), Habila Joshak assured Nigerians that the SARS unit would be repositioned for a better service delivery.

DIG Joshak said the complaints of Nigerians against the unit are been investigated and SARS officers found wanting would be “taken out of the system”.

#SupportSARS protesters at Eagle Square, Abuja (Pulse)

“I want to assure you that the IGP has already given directive that SARS must be reorganized to meet the expectation of the community,” Joshak said.

“I want to promise you that we will carry everybody along. The SARS will take the shape of a Commissioner of Police that will head the unit, and make a selection of those who have acquired courage. A lot of them have acquired courage, but if they have abused that courage, it will be addressed publicly.

“I want to invite anyone whose right has been abused to come out and report these officers. We also want also human rights organization, and some of you that have pointed out to us some of the wrongs that our men have done in the past to join us so that whatever outcomes of such complains will be put on the table for public view.

#SupportSARS protesters at Eagle Square, Abuja (Pulse)

“This administration will be open and also cooperate with them to suggest to us how they want us to police them. We will address all complains about SARS, we will address from state to state, from division to the last station. We will bring individuals to account for their actions without fear or favour. We promise Nigerians that we will not abuse their rights.

“SARS have something to offer, but if they have gone contrary to their assignment, we are going to address that and we are going to ensure justice is done and justice prevails,” he emphasized.

#SupportSARS protesters at Eagle Square, Abuja (Pulse)

Joshak said all complains on against SARS on social media were been collated by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood.

He cautioned SARS officials against acts that would portray the unit as an anti-civil group.

Arsenal preparing one final offer in effort to keep Ozil in North London

With the calendar soon turning over to the new year, the gossip ahead of the January transfer window is heating up. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest rumours.

Gunners to make final Ozil offer

It's now or never as far as Arsenal's hopes of keeping Mesut Ozil are concerned, according to the Mirror, which reports that the Gunners will make one more attempt to persuade him to sign a new deal.

Ozil, out of contract in the summer, has been linked with both Manchester United and Barcelona.

Talks over his future have stalled, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger "is not giving up hope" and the Gunners will table an offer that would make the Germany international the best-paid player in their history.

The Mirror writes that "with Alexis Sanchez now seen as almost certain to leave, Arsenal are trying to pull out all the stops on Ozil." And it adds that the question is "whether they can persuade him to stay rather than moving somewhere offering a greater chance of trophies."

Arsenal reportedly will make one final offer to keep Mesut Ozil in North London.

Madrid consider Kepa as Chelsea get Courtois boost

Reports last month indicated that Chelsea would step up efforts to keep Thibaut Courtois at Stamford Bridge -- and their hopes of doing so could soon be a lot higher.

The Telegraph reports that Real Madrid are "set to make a decision on their first-choice goalkeeper target" and may opt to move for Athletic Bilbao's Kepa Arrizabalaga in January rather than Courtois in the summer.

Courtois has less than two years left on his Chelsea contract and has indicated that he is content to leave discussions about a new deal until the end of the season.

The Telegraph reports that he "should know by the end of this month whether or not Real are likely to bid for him" when summer comes around. But it adds that Kepa "appears much easier for Real to land," with his contract expiring before that of Courtois and his transfer fee likely to be significantly lower.

Spanish sides seek Sturridge switch

Speculation that Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge could be on his way to pastures new has been growing for a while, and the Mail suggests Spain could be his next destination.

Daniel Sturridge could leave Liverpool in search of first-team football, with a pair of Spanish sides linked.

Sturridge has struggled for playing time this season and the report states that he "is willing to consider a move abroad in January, with Real Betis and Valencia keen."

His time at Liverpool has been disrupted by injury problems, but he has been fit for most of this season and wants to play regular football to give himself a chance of a place in England's World Cup squad.

The Mail writes that although the Merseysiders are "reluctant to sell" now because of the cost of securing a replacement in the winter window, a loan deal could be done.

Tap-ins

- Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson, who saw his side return to the foot of the Premier League table at the weekend, is set to sign Espanyol keeper Diego Lopez next month, according to the Mirror. It writes that Hodgson "has moved for the 36-year-old after identifying his last line of defence as a problem position," and the Eagles are confident that a deal will go through.

- Aston Villa are interested in signing Bournemouth striker Lewis Grabban in January after his success on loan at Sunderland this season. Grabban has scored 11 times in 17 games despite the Black Cats' struggles and the Birmingham Mail reports that Villa could bring him in, with Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe looking to sell rather than loaning him again.

New kings serve deposition notice on Olubadan

IBADAN — The royal battle between the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and Obas-in-Council, got to the climax yesterday as the latter issued a 21-day deposition notice on the monarch over alleged denigration of Olubadan stool.

Olubadan

The Obas-in-Council comprises the new nine kings installed by the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

According to the kings, unless the Olubadan retraces his steps on some of his activities which are alien to the stool, they will be left with no other option than to recommend his removal from office as the paramount ruler.

They made the call at a press conference at Mapo Hall, Ibadan on Monday.

The kings present at the meeting, include the most senior king to the Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun; the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin; Balogun of Ibadaland; Oba Abimbola Tajudeen Ajibola, Osi Balogun of Ibadanland; Oba Eddy Oyewole, Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland; Oba Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe, Ashipa Balogun of Ibadanland; Oba Amidu Ajibade, Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland; and Oba Kola Adegbola, Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland.

Allegations against Olubadan

Some of the accusations leveled against the monarch are that his wives (queens) still attend the meeting of the traditional council, an action, they claimed, was alien to the throne of Olubadan.

Led by Oba Balogun, the kings maintained that “Olubadan-in-Council meetings are not conducted the way they are supposed to be. Queens (Oloris) were still attending meetings with us, contributing, dictating and attacking that resulted in abuses and curses on the High Chiefs.”

Though, they stated that they were not all that keen on ensuring his removal, they, however, warned the Olubadan to toe the path of honour and correct all the perceived anomalies.

They insisted that they, who are kingmakers that recommended Oba Adetunji to the Oyo State government for approval, still retain the power to ask for his removal, if he remains impervious to correction.

Time not ripe for reply — Olubadan

When Vanguard called the Director of Media and Public Affairs to Olubadan, Mr. Adeola Oloko, he simply said time was not ripe to answer the members of the council.

He said, “Which obas? It is not yet time for us to react to their allegations. We will speak on the issue later. It is not now.”

The council stated further that the monarch was taking actions on behalf of the council without making recourse to them as stipulated by rules and regulations guiding the traditional council.

Olubadan, the council members alleged, was fond of inciting people against the state government, which, according to them, was not representative of the relationship between the council and the government.

Other alleged sins of the monarch are: “The appointment of Baales and Mogajis are not in compliance with proper set up rules and standards; Apart from the monetary scandals from which Kabiyesi is yet to refrain, a new Olubadan-in-Council is inside Popoyemoja palace consisting of Olubadan, the Oloris and Personal Assistant to Olubadan who decides from time to time who is to be Baale or Mogaji and will only send hearing notice of meeting and agenda to the real members of Olubadan-in-Council on Saturday preceding the installation date on Monday.”

The address, read by Oba Balogun, also alleged that “The Olubadan Oba Adetunji has since after the inauguration of the Beaded Crown Obas in Ibadan cultivated himself to misbehave by engaging in acts to cause civil disorder by parading himself about with some unscrupulous Mogajis in Ibadan land, inciting people to rise up against the legitimate government of our amiable governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

“This is a serious offense which we the Ibadan Council of Obas can pass a vote of No Confidence on him, after which we as king makers that nominated and appointed him for confirmation and approval by the Executive Governor will also call for his removal.

“We are by this Conference giving His Imperial Majesty 21 days ultimatum to change his stand now and work for the improvement of Ibadan rather than disorderliness,” the Obas further said.

Since the relationship between the governor and the monarch became frosty, elders and elites alike have been making frantic efforts to settle the case out of court, but there appears to be no solution in sight yet.

Also, the intervention of other Yoruba monarchs like the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oluwo of Iwo, and many others are yet to heed any positive result.

SPORT: Gomez urges Liverpool team-mates to make West Brom suffer

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has urged his team-mates to bounce back from the draw in the Merseyside derby when they host West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday.

Liverpool's Joe Gomez (R) stands next to injured teammate Jordan Henderson during their English Premier League match against Everton, at Anfield in Liverpool, on December 10, 2017 (AFP/File)

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has urged his team-mates to bounce back from the draw in the Merseyside derby when they host West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday.

The Reds were held 1-1 by Everton at Anfield despite having the bulk of possession in the match after Wayne Rooney's penalty cancelled out Mohamed Salah's opening goal.

The share of the points leaves Liverpool in fourth spot, 16 points off leaders Manchester City.

Gomez believes the visit of the 'Baggies' so soon after that result gives Liverpool the opportunity to address their frustrations, even if West Brom try to adopt a similar defensive approach to Everton.

"That's one of the positives," said Gomez.

"Obviously it's tough, it's a gruelling schedule but it gives you a chance to try and fix it straight away.

West Bromwich Albion's Jonny Evans (L) clashes with Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha during their English Premier League match, at The Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich, on December 2, 2017 (AFP/File)

"We've got to take the positives from the derby. I think we all put in a good fight and we knew the importance of the game and what it means and we all did our best.

"We've seen it a few times this season at Anfield -- people know the attacking threats we have and tend to sit off a bit, especially because we are so quick on the counter."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was criticised for leaving out Brazilian attacking duo Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino against Everton.

The pair are expected to return to the starting line-up for Wednesday's game having been introduced as late substitutes in the Merseyside derby.

'Wow!'

Gomez regularly has to face Coutinho, Firmino in addition to Salah and Sadio Mane on the training ground and said the quality of Liverpool's attacking players leaves him open-mouthed at times.

"Sometimes they do a few things and I am like 'wow!'," said the 20-year-old Englishman.

"It is not that you get used to it, you expect it from them because you know how good they are.

"Their standards never drop. That is one of the pluses at being at a club like Liverpool at this moment in time."

Liverpool will check on the fitness of striker Daniel Sturridge for the Premier League clash at Anfield after he missed the derby with a hamstring problem.

West Brom head for Anfield without a win in 14 Premier League games and with new manager Alan Pardew having collected just one point and no goals from his first two games in charge.

The 1-0 defeat by fellow strugglers Swansea on Saturday deepened fears over their Premier League survival but captain Jonny Evans says Pardew has tried to boost confidence in the camp.

"He's trying to instil confidence in the team, he's encouraging us to go forward and express ourselves," said Evans.

"I think the lads are all enjoying that side of it.

"It'll take time, work on the training field. He'll make sure we're well drilled and will build our confidence by doing things over and over again."

Apex bank to play up eurozone strength at steady-as-she-goes meeting

The European Central Bank will highlight economic strength in the eurozone in new forecasts Thursday, analysts expect, while avoiding spooking markets with talk of further cuts to its massive support for the economy.

Mario Draghi, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), warned at his last press conference in October that inflation would likely fall back over the winter, before recovering in early 2018 (AFP/File)

ECB economic growth forecasts could be in for an upgrade this week, after the European Commission last month sharply lifted its predictions to a 2.2 percent expansion in 2017, the fastest pace in a decade.

Brussels predicts the 19-nation currency area will go on to add some 2.1 percent in 2018 and 1.9 percent in 2019.

Thursday will also bring the first look at the central bank's growth and inflation expectations for 2020.

While economic expansion has accelerated in recent months -- notching up 0.6 percent quarter-on-quarter between July and September -- inflation remains stubbornly short of the ECB target of just below 2.0 percent.

Policymakers at the Frankfurt institution agreed in October to slash its mass bond-buying from 60 billion euros ($71 billion) per month to 30 billion from January, as signs of recovery in the single currency area multiplied.

Along with historic low interest rates and cheap loans to banks, government and corporate bond purchases are designed to pump cash through the financial system and into the real economy of businesses and households, powering economic growth and inflation.

But price growth in the 19-nation single currency area slowed slightly to 1.4 percent in October, according to figures released just after the ECB's cutback in bond-buying.

Central bank president Mario Draghi warned at his last press conference in October that inflation would likely fall back over the winter, before recovering in early 2018.

"It is far from clear that the ECB's previously stated conditions of a self-sustaining and widespread rise have been met," Capital Economics analyst Jennifer McKeown pointed out.

Until inflation is obviously on track to meet the target most policymakers are loath to hint at further reducing their support to the economy or raising interest rates.

Doing so could boost the euro against other currencies, braking price growth by making imports cheaper and slowing economic growth by increasing prices for eurozone products abroad.

On Thursday, Draghi "will be reluctant to give any signals about future monetary policy that might prompt the currency to rise sharply again" as it did after an unusually upbeat speech in June, McKeown said.

Inflation puzzle

Like other major central banks, the ECB has been frustrated by economic growth failing to haul inflation up in its wake.

Earlier this year, Draghi said that higher wages would be the "linchpin" of increased prices.

For now, upward pressure on pay is weak as there are still reserves of people unemployed or eager to move from part-time to full-time hours, limiting workers' bargaining power.

Unemployment in the eurozone fell to 8.8 percent in October, its lowest level since January 2009.

Looking ahead to 2018, "another convincing year for the economy could put Europe in a totally new position," JP Morgan chief economist Bruce Kasman told German newspaper the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

If unemployment falls further and "core" inflation -- excluding volatile food and energy prices -- returns to an upward path, the ECB "could see a need to move" by further cutting bond-buying and ultimately increasing interest rates, he added.

"Raising interest rates wouldn't inevitably have a disruptive effect, but for now markets are very content and far from expecting interest rates to be normalised" from their present levels around or below zero, Kasman said.

That means "the bank will continue to stress for some time yet that interest rates will be kept on hold until well after asset purchases have ended," Capital Economics' McKeown said.

Any new announcements could be limited to racking up more corporate bonds on the ECB's shopping list, she added, as the central bank approaches limits on how much government debt it is allowed to hold.

Amnesty accuses Europe of 'complicity' in abuse of migrants

Amnesty International on Tuesday accused European governments of "complicity" in the detention under horrific conditions of migrants in Libya, especially through their assistance to the Libyan coastguard implicated in people trafficking.

Migrants wait to be rescued by the Aquarius rescue ship run by non-governmental organisations "SOS Mediterranee" and "Medecins Sans Frontieres" in the Mediterranean Sea, 30 nautic miles from the Libyan coast, on August 2, 2017 (AFP/File)

"European governments are knowingly complicit in the torture and abuse of tens of thousands of refugees and migrants detained by Libyan immigration authorities in appalling conditions in Libya," the rights group said in a report.

It accused European governments of "actively supporting a sophisticated system of abuse and exploitation of refugees and migrants by the Libyan coastguard, detention authorities and smugglers in order to prevent people from crossing the Mediterranean".

"Hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants trapped in Libya are at the mercy of Libyan authorities, militias, armed groups and smugglers often working seamlessly together for financial gain," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty's Europe director.

"European governments have not just been fully aware of these abuses; by actively supporting the Libyan authorities in stopping sea crossings and containing people in Libya, they are complicit in these abuses."

Dalhuisen urged European governments to "rethink their cooperation with Libya on migration and enable people to get to Europe through legal pathways, including by resettling tens of thousands of refugees".

"They must insist that the Libyan authorities end the policy and practice of arbitrary arrests and detention of refugees and migrants, immediately release all foreign nationals held in the detention centres," he said.

He charged that "by supporting Libyan authorities in trapping people in Libya... European governments have shown where their true priorities lie: namely the closure of the central Mediterranean route, with scant regard to the suffering caused".

Officials in the Libyan coastguard, trained and equipped by European governments, notably Italy, to curb the flow of migrants "are known to operate in collusion with smuggling networks and have used threats and violence against refugees and migrants", according to Amnesty which cited testimony from dozens of migrants.

Those interviewed had "described the soul-destroying cycle of exploitation to which collusion between guards, smugglers and the Libyan coastguard consigns them", it said.

Migrants whose boats have been intercepted are sent to detention centres "where they endure horrific treatment. Up to 20,000 people currently remain contained in these overcrowded, unsanitary detention centres," it said.

The Amnesty report also accused the Libyan coastguard of endangering migrants' lives and of intimidating NGOs operating in the Mediterranean on rescue missions.

It singled out a November 6 incident involving the coastguard and a German relief group, Sea-Watch, in which at least five migrants died.

The UN-backed government in Tripoli said on Saturday that Italy and Libya are to set up a joint commission in an attempt to fight back against people traffickers and tackle illegal migration.

Human-trafficking networks have flourished in the chaos that followed a NATO-backed uprising which toppled long-time Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

Clinical care: Medics task LASG on infection control, prevention curriculum

The Lagos State government has been tasked to accept and integrate into clinical practice, a curriculum for the training of medical professionals in Infection Prevention and Control, IPC.

PRESENTATION: From left – Provost , College of Medicine UNILAG, Prof. Afolabi Lesi; Deputy VC Developmental Services UNILAG (Principal Investigator IPC Curriculum Development Project; CMD LUTH Prof. Chris Bode; Commissioner for Health Lagos State, Dr. Jide Idris and representative of the Dean Faculty of Dentistry, UNILAG, during the presentation of the IPC survey report in Lagos recently.

Making the call recently at the public dissemination of the survey findings of a survey on infection prevention and control in Lagos State, stakeholders advocating for the advancement of IPC practice in Nigeria, urged acceptance of the curriculum by all stakeholders to ensure proper integration infection prevention and control into clinical care as is best practice all over the world.

Presenting the results of the survey, the Principal Investigator IPC Curriculum Development Project, DVC Developmental Services UNILAG, Prof Folsade Ogunsola, described infection control and prevention as a quality and safety standard and an integral part of health delivery.

Ogunsola, who is a professor of Clinical Microbiology at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, CMUL, and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Developmental Services UNILAG, noted that Nigeria has no professionals in infection control and infection.

“Why we talk about infection control and prevention is that any time you go for a procedure, you can have an infection. Part of infection control and prevention is to train health workers to protect themselves, so we have a lot of people trained, but we don’t have people trained to recognise risk and ensure that there is no danger.

“There is no curriculum right now in West Africa for that cadre of staff. So we have a lot of people who have been taught to protect themselves but we don’t have anybody pushing that discipline.

According to Ogunsola: “We did a survey around Lagos with the permission of the Ministry of Health and we looked at tertiary, secondary and primary hospitals and private hospitals at different levels of care. We looked at what guidelines and processes they have, their knowledge and manner of practicing it as well as the infrastructure of infection control and prevention.

In her view, part of the of the intent was to get a baseline of what is going on, noting that the curriculum would be finally ready February next year and we will do a pilot training of people.

“We want to present this and solicit the Lagos State government to be the first to ensure there is a career path for this sub-speciality of infection control and prevention for nurses.”

According to her, at least one infection control and prevention nurse is required for 250 patients, while for a lot of activity one nurse per 100 patients is the requirement.

“So a place like LUTH might require seven infection control and prevention nurses because that is what they do 24/7 and they would also have infection control and prevention doctors.”

The Programme Manager of the Project Dr. Tochi Okwor, explained that the IPC training curriculum will create a common framework for training and certification of healthcare professionals specifically in IPC and for the establishment of proper IPC programmes in health facilities across the nation.

“The training curriculum is also designed to address gaps identified in a baseline assessment of IPC in health facilities and uses examples relevant to our needs.

The purpose of the training programme is to ensure that trainees are fully prepared to lead infection prevention and control services and are developing, implementing, supervising and auditing a comprehensive infection, prevention and control programme in different healthcare facilities.”

According to the Provost College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof Afolabi Lesi, infection prevention and control has to be a career structure.

“There must be a clear path to show that the training is to benefit people. We are keying into it at LUTH because it is a mandate of the institution. I believe in infection control. Hospital acquired infections are more dangerous because they tend to be more aggressive and more resistant to antibiotics so any training that can help us manage and control infections better is always useful and necessary in an environment such as ours.”

Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, said the development of a curriculum on infection control and prevention as an essential and good development.

“I’m waiting for the guidelines. It is very necessary for us to adopt this curriculum and the earlier we start it the better because we will continue to have these disease epidemics.

“I am drawing attention of all health workers to addressing this so that we can reduce occurrence of hospital acquired infections.”

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